LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 3, 21 September 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[Per Press Agency.] Wellington, September 18. The following programme has been arranged for the Hutt races, to take place on the 6th and 7th Pebruary next. On the first day there will be a- Maiden Plate of 75 sovs. ; Hurdle Race of 50 sovs. ; Wellington Gold Cup, value 100 sovs., with 500 sovs. added ; Hutt Park Stakes of 50 sovs. ; Flying Stakes of 50 sovs. Second day —Wellington Derby of 100 sovs. ; Hurdle Handicap of 75 sovs.; Racing Club Handicap of 200 sovs.; Free Handicap of 50 sovs. ; Empire Plate of 100 sovs.; Consolation Stakes oi 500 sovs. Invercargill September 18. A telegram from Inspector Fox today says that he had arrested Welsh, who is supposed to have committed the murder in Waikawa bush. This is all the information to hand. Auckland, September 18. Bewi is expected to visit Waikato before March. Some of his tribe asked him to do bo in order to settle some tribal matters. He has had some difficulty about his steamer, which was intended to open the Kawhia trade. It appears the Customs officials objected to he steamer running from Manukau because Rewi had not conformed with the Customs rules, and “ red tape ” interfered, notwithstanding that such a gravely important question as opening Kawhia was concerned. Rewi telegraphed to Mr Sheehan, and early on Sunday morning the Commissioner of Customs telegraphed to Auckland to pass the steamer, so that no further difficulty in that respect will arise. 1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. i j Wellington, September 18. After the 10 o’clock adjournment, the debate on the Triennial Parlia- . ments Bill was resumed. Only a few I members spoke, and they made their - remarks exceedingly brief in order to E enable as much private business to he i transacted as possible. Dr Wallis • made a very few remarks in reply, and the division was taken with the result that there were for the Bill 18, and against it 24.

September 19. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Ormond asked the Government whether Rewi Maninpoto, and the native owners of lands through which the proposed railway from Waikato to Taranaki would run, have consented to the construction of that railway, or have undertaken to give land to pro- v vide for its construction, and if ♦ Government will lay before the House the particulars of such promise or undertaking. Mr Sheehan did not think it desirable to give the House the information asked for. If he answered the question as he might answer it, he thought it would have an unfavorable effect upon the negotiations now pending, and which would probably last for two years to come. Te "Whiti asked the Native Minister when he would introduce a measure to increase the number of Maori representatives in the House. Mr Sheehan said that if the Government proposals were not accepted they would bring in a Bill to increase the number of Maori members. September 20. The census returns were laid on the table. In reply to Mr Richardson’s question regarding the Tapahu railway, Mr Macandrew said everything in the matter had been done openly and aboveboard. All the information as to the dates of tenders, etc., asked for was laid on the table. No present liabilities of any kind had been incurred. The liabilities were entirely prospective. No arrangements had been made as to any extension. The question of the rates of pay of the police was referred to a select committee. The Electoral Bill was further considered in committee. In clause 142 an amendment was made by which the numbers placed ou ballot papers can be sealed, so as not to be open to inspection unless by breaking a seal. After the main clauses had been passed through committee, Mr Stout stated that he would propose a clause to allow Maoris to vote both as ratepayers and as freeholders. A number of objections was taken to this proposal, and the discussion was interrupted at 5.30.

all wasted, which was very discouraging to the stony plain. They will jiost likely have a healthy young ‘ earthquake on hand in those parts when the next batch of star-gazers come round. The Selwyn and Kakaia rivers will probably be viewed without emotion. It was a different thing when the traveller had to cross them on horseback, or even in a coach. He took an interest in them, and had a respect for them then, and not unfrequent ly he became so attached to their cooling floods, that when he once got in he could not be prevailed upon to come out again. Engineers formerly decreed, ex cathedra, that the Canterbury rivers could not by any possibility be bridged. It is not the only mistake that engineers have made. The town of .SouUi Kakaia is mainly remarkable for its hotels. Indeed, if the hotels were taken aw'ay, the rest of the town might be thrown into the bargain. This it) the principal habitat of the dreaded simoon, the dust-storm of the desert, which occasionally obscures the landscape so completely that the traveller, who is compelled to keep his eves fast shut, cannot see anything at all. In former days the interval between Kakaia and Ashburton, eighteen miles in length, was the longest and most trying, stage in the coach journey ; hut now it is divided by several railway stations. Ashburton, five years ago, consisted of a melancholy little accommodation-house, a blacksmith’s shop, and a police station. It is now a town of two thousand people, and is increasing at the most alarming rate. It is the centre of a vast farming district, and its distance, fifty-two miles from any port, enables it to hold its own as a genuine inland town. In the course of a few years, perhaps, it will be as large as Manchester, which it is said to resemble; but then, on the other hand, perhaps it will not. Time will show. IS ous verrons. Allez! The Ashburton, also, is a very nine river to cross on a bridge. On the south side of it is the little town of Tinwald, which has sprung up like a mushroom within the last year, and which threatens to rival Ashburton iteJfpif Ahr rapidity of its grow id. The jeople of the district found it went figainst the grain to carry all their i>m across the bridge, so they established stores at Tinwald, where they |»4t their produce on the railway. It is phasant thus to see the real progress in the cereal production of the plains] which, until recently, were I<>«»k<d upon as the sheepiest of sheep count#. 44 Wheat and Wool" is now the fa%»rite toast with the Canterbury just as 44 Wine and Women" Was with those shocking cavaliers; or “ A sickly season and a bloody war" with the fire-eating Indian officers. No easily do men adapt themselves to the circumstances which surround them. The scenery between Tinwald and the Rangitata is not exactly picturesque. In times of flood the Kangitata is a Innling torrent from hank to bank, tearing along at the rate of eighteen or twenty miles an hour. It is quicker to walk ten miles and catch the train than to try and wade it on these occasions ; but the latter course is the cheaper. It saves funeral expenses. The district of Noutli Canterbury is now entered, and the scenery becomes much pleasanter. On the right, seven or eight miles away, may be seen the Waihi Bush, and further on Geraldine, nestling under the wooded point at the foot of Mount Four-Peaks. The pretty homestead on the north bank of the Orari is a specimen of the home of the bloated squatter, whom free selectiou has almost improved off the face of mature. From the Orari forwardcivilisation everywhere asserts itself. The next station is Winchester, which lias a good deal to make up before it equals its namesake at home in size or beauty. Temuka is the capital of the County of Geraldine, but, as the Counties Act is not in force there, it takes but little interest in it. It contains about a thousand people, and is a considerable depot for the grain trade of the district. The line nowskirts the .Levels Plains on the right, the liCvels station being marked by a dense mass of gum trees, and the Neadown Estate on the left. This last is one of the blocks bought under what are known as “ Sir George Grey’s Regulations,*’ at 10s. an acre. To buy hind under that system was better than finding a gold mine. This property was sold a fear ago by the original purchaser for £ls an acre. The Washdyke ,is one of the chief stations of the New Zealand MeatPreserving Company, whose works arc clearly discernible with the naked eye. The smell of them is generally very clearly discernible with the naked nose. The Washdyke lagoon is a shallow' expanse of brackish water, a great place for shooting ducks and pukeko in the season, and for skating during hard frosts. We now' arrive at the pretty suburbs of Timaru, passing on either side the residences oi the older settlers, who have nestled down cosily under their own gum troes. Timaru is a town of about five thousand people, and is the centre ot t_ largest grain-producing district i) 4 ’. v name signifies “ Th< Shelter," and, as a matter of fact, hen was the only landing-place for many miles aloug this iron-bound coast. This, being resorted to first by whalers, and afterwards by the sheepowners ol the neighborhood for the purpose oi shipping their wool, made it the nucleus of the present thriving town Visitors will doubtless look out witl interest for the celebrated Timari breakwater. Let them scan the hori zon keenly, and if there are any cloudt

about, let them seek in the then object of their inquiry. The breakwater, in fact, is yet in nubibus." The first preliminary steps, however, have been taken by the contractors, at a spot a little to the north of the railway station, and if sanguine hopes are of any avail, the w ork ought to be successfuly completed within a very few years. It must be admitted that there is no instance on record of a breakwater being constructed of sanguine hopes ; but, still, when all other gifts flew of Pandora’s box, Hope remained, and it augurs well for the darling project of the Timaruvians that, in spite of all discouragements, they themselves had never lost confidence in it. The best thing at Timaru are the hospital, the public school, the domain, and the flour mills. For the rest of the hobbledehoy state, half-way between village infancy and civic manhood, and its own citizens are warmly attatched to it. To use a Hibernian ism the surrounding country is the best part of the town.